PRO XI No private army in the region after 5 arrested over firearms

By Rhoda Grace Saron on May 17, 2019

The Davao Police Regional Office on Wednesday assured that there are no private armed groups operating in the region following the arrest of five men with undocumented firearms while passing through a checkpoint in Sulop, Davao del Sur on May 10.

Meanwhile, the suspects are already facing cases that were filed against them on Tuesday.

Brig. Gen. Marcelo Morales, the regional police director, said they arrested the five men when the firearms were found inside their vehicle. They were not able to show the proper documents for the guns.

The five men were arrested in a police checkpoint along the highway of Kilometer 80 in Kiblagon at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

He said the suspects were sued for violating the Comelec gun ban and RA 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms).
“Also, we are checking because we have received information that some of these guns were owned by some elected officials. That is why we are still verifying that through the Regional Civil Security Unit,” he added.

Morales said the suspects are not members of a private armed group.

“One of them is a sibling of an incumbent local official who, at the same time, is running for elective position,” he said. “Also, the other one is a farmer.“

Joint agents of the 3rd Maneuver Platoon of the 1st Davao del Sur provincial Mobile Force Company (DSPMFC), the 1103rd Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB), and Sulop Municipal Police Station were conducting the checkpoint when they flagged down a passing Mitsubishi Strada.